Signal for newspaper delivery boxes



7, 195@ w. s. SHAW SIGNAL FOR NEWSPAPER DELIVERY BOXES Filed Aug. 23, 1948 5 awe/Wm 'IJIJIIIJJIIIJJIJJJA Wa /law Patented Feb. 7, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to a holder or receptacle for newspapers or the like.

An object of this invention is to provide in combination with a receptacle within which news papers may be delivered, a signal which is automatically moved to operative position when a paper has been inserted in the receptacle, so that where the receptacle is positioned remote from a house the receiver of the paper can readily determine when the paper has been delivered without making frequent trips to the receptacle.

In rural or outlying sections, newspapers are delivered into tubular receptacles which are open at one end and closed at the other end with the open end facing the road. While the recipient of the paper can estimate the approximate time of delivery under normal conditions, it frequently happens that the carrier is late, and when this happens the recipient usually makes frequent trips to the box or receptacle before the paper is finally received. It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a box or receptacle having a signal which is moved into signalling position merely by insertion of the paper in the box, the signal having a phosphorous coating so that the signal can be seen in the dark.

To the foregoing objects, and others which may hereinafter more fully appear, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as will be more specifically referred to and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, but it is to be understood that changes, variations, and modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a detailed front elevation of a box or receptacle constructed according to an embodiment of this invention adapted to receive newspapers or the like;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section partially broken away taken on line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan view of portion of the signal element;

Figure 4 is a detailed front elevation partially broken away of a modified form of this invention;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Referring to the drawing and first to Figures 1 to 3 inclusive, the numeral Ill designates generally a box or receptacle designed for receiving newspapers, periodicals or the like. The box or receptacle Ill is formed of a cylindrical tube I I which is closed at its rear end by a rear wall l2 and is open at its front end l3. The receptacle or box It is adapted to be-supported in a position whereby the carrier may easily and quickly place a folded or rolled newspaper into the box.

In order toprovide-a means whereby the recipient of thenewspaper will be able to determine .when a paperhas been delivered, particularly where the box is located quite remote from the house, I have provided a signal means generally designated as M. The signal means l4 includes a plate l5 which has a shaft l6 fixed thereto, the shaft [6 being rockably mounted through a pair of depending ears I! carried by the tubular member ll adjacent the rear portion thereof. The signal member l5 has formed integral therewith a substantially right angularly disposed operating plate [8 which projects through a slot or opening l9 formed in the tubular member II. The operator I8 is adapted to be disposed substantially diametrically across the tubular member l l in a position where a paper P which is inserted into the tubular member II will force the operator l8 to rock downwardly and rearwardly to the dotted position shown in Figure 2. A spring 20 is secured to the shaft l6 and engages one of the ears I! and is adapted to normally rock the signal member l5 upwardly to a position against the bottom of the box [0. In order to provide a means whereby the signal member [5 may be seen in the dark, the signal member 55 has a luminous coating 2! on at least one face thereof.

Referring now to Figures 4 and 5, there is disclosed a modified form of this invention wherein the box or receptacle [0a which is similar to the box or receptacle [0 has a signal member 22 rockably mounted at the rear portion of the box. The signal member 22 includes a signal plate 23 disposed outwardly of the box Illa and normally disposed in a depending vertical position as shown in full lines in Figure 5. The signal plate 23 has formed integral therewith an operator plate 24 disposed Within the box I!) and offset connection 25 is connected between the signal plate 23 and the operator 24. The connecting member 25 has a shaft or trunnions 2B fixed thereto which rockably engage through a pair of ears 21, struck from the box Illa. The rear side of the signal plate 23 ma have a luminous coating 28 disposed thereon so that the owner of this box can determine by viewing the luminous signal member in the dark whether the paper has been delivered or not. When the paper has been delivered into the box Illa the signal memher 22 is rocked upwardly and forwardly to the dotted position shown in Figure 5. Where the box I 011 is disposed remote from the house, the recipient will be able to determine Whether the paper has been delivered by looking for the signal member. If the signal member 22 cannot be seen the recipient will know that a paper has been delivered.

In the use and operation of this invention, the box or receptacle I is mounted on a post or standard with the open end i3 facing the road. When a paper P has been inserted into the box HI, the paper will swing the operator [8 downwardly and rearwardly to the dotted position shown in Figure 2. At this time the signal member I will be swung downwardly and forwardly so that the luminous coating 21 can be seen in the dark. With a box or receiver as hereinbefore described, the recipient of the paper may determine at a glance whether the paper has been delivered and it will be unnecessary for the recipient to make frequent trips to the box in the event the carrier is late.

I claim:

A newspaper receiver comprising a tubular housing open at the front end thereof, an opening formed in the rear portion of the underside of the wall of said housing, an integral, biased plate structure having opposite offset portions and a central connecting portion, a pintle fixed to said connecting portion, means comprising apertured lugs disposed exteriorly of and adjacent the opposite side edges of said opening said pintle extending through the apertures in said lugs rockably to mount said plate on said housing with one of said offset portions extending through said opening and loosely disposed within said housing to provide a signal operator, and the other of said offset portions disposed without said housing and providing a signal member whereby insertion of a paper into said housing will rock said signal operator and effect swinging of said signal member.

WILLIAM S. SHAW.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

